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Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 sometimes called the Enforcement Act or the Force Act, was a United States federal law enacted during the Reconstruction era in response to civil rights violations against African Americans. -
Invention of the Lightbulb
Thomas Edison, after numerous tests, made the light bulb. He beat out many other inventors to become the first person to produce a fuctioning light bulb. This was huge not only forthe U.S., but for theentire world as people would not have to use candles anymore. -
Hawaii is Occupied
The occupation of Hawaii ended the existence of an independent state and launched for the U.S. the involvement in annexation of territory beyond the mainland. By the 1820s, missionaries and sugar planters had started arriving in the Kingdom of Hawaii from all over, and the American influence there grew. In 1887, the year the U.S. leased Pearl Harbor, the planters forced the adoption of a document known as the Bayonet Constitution, limiting the monarchy’s power. -
Coxey's Army Arrives at the U.S. Capitol
In the spring of 1894, unemployed workers from across the country marched on Washington. On May 1, Jacob Coxey, a Populist leader from Ohio, led marchers up to the steps of the Capitol to petition for a “good roads” bill that would put the unemployed to work. Before he could read his petition, Coxey was arrested for “stepping on the grass.” But the march still changed America’s politics of economic hardship. -
The Supreme Court Decides Plessy v. Ferguson
On May 18, 1896, the Supreme Court decided Plessy v. Ferguson, a case that segregated the South and other parts of the nation for 68 years. It doomed many southern African Americans to three generations of inferior education, derelict housing and stunted economic opportunity. The court ruled that “separate” treatment of blacks and whites under the law was constitutional, as long as that treatment was “equal” -
The USS Maine Is Sunk
In early 1898, as war raged in Cuba, the USS Maine docked in Havana’s harbor to signal to Spanish colonial authorities that the United States would protect its citizens and financial interests on the island if threatened. At 9:40 p.m. on Feb. 15, an explosion destroyed the ship, killing 268 American servicemen. -
Spanish American War
The Spanish–American War was an armed conflict between Spain and the United States in 1898. Hostilities began in the aftermath of the internal explosion of USS Maine in Havana Harbor in Cuba, leading to U.S. intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. -
The United States annexes Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico.
Representatives of Spain and the United States signed a peace treaty in Paris on December 10, 1898, which established the independence of Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States, and allowed the victorious power to purchase the Philippines Islands from Spain for $20 million. -
The Philippine-American War Begins (June 2, 1899)
A seminal but largely forgotten event in our history, the Philippine-American War gave rise to a fierce debate about America’s role in the world that is still as relevant today as it was 100 years ago. After a quick and decisive victory over Spanish forces in 1898, the U.S. decided to annex the Spanish colony of the Philippines, provoking nationalist fervor and a determined guerrilla resistance among the populace. -
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and activist. At age 25 in 1927, he went from obscurity as a U.S. Air Mail pilot to instantaneous world fame by winning the Orteig Prize for making a nonstop flight from New York to Paris. -
American Occupation of the Phillipines
After the Spanish-American War ended, the Phillipines fought the U.S. for their own independence. After the U.S. won the War, they occupied The Phillipines. This was highly controversial as the U.S. was doing something very "unamerican". -
San Francisco Earthquake
San Francisco earthquake leaves 500 dead or missing and destroys about 4 sq mi of the city -
Henry Ford and the Assembly Line
When Ford invented the assembly line, mass production wentthrough the roof. Soon every American, poor and rich, were able to have an automobile. This was a huge boost forthe economy as thousands of job openings were made. -
World War I
World War I, also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. -
Panama Canal
On August 15, 1914, the Panama Canal opened for business, with the passage through of the Ancon, an American cargo-passenger ship. The Canal was built primarily to make a faster way to the West Coast for American settlers in the 19th Century. -
Nineteenth Amendment
The ratification of the 19th Amendment was a substantial moment. It let women vote which was a big part of getting reights for women. It also carved a path for African-Americans to gain their own rights. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was a treaty signed by the Allied and Central Powers. It ended WWI and started an era in the U.S. known as the Roaring Twenties. The U.S. was not fighting any wars, and they could sit back and enjoy prosperity for the next decade. -
First radio broadcast in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
first commercial radio station was KDKA in Pittsburgh, which went on the air in the evening of Nov. 2, 1920, with a broadcast of the returns of the Harding-Cox presidential election. -
Black Tuesday
The Stock Market Crash ended the Roaring Twenties and effectively started the Great Depression. The age of prosperity was now over with the U.S. focusing on how to regain balance. This event would affect the next decade as well as American history as we know it. -
Invasion of Manchuria by Japan
Japan started their conquest of world domination in 1931 by invading the Chinese province of Manchuria. This caused tensions between Japan and many countries, inlcuding the U.S. This was looked at as a reason for interventionism by a lot of Americans while some still thought that the U.S. should stay out of foreign affairs. -
Roosevelt Gets Elected
In the heat of the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president. The American people thought that FDR could end the Great Depression with his idea of government expansion. This would change how much power the president would be allowed to have as well as how much power the government could have. -
The Start of the CCC
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a New Deal agency which would be substantial in getting the U.S. out of the Depression. The Corporation would go on to supply millions of young men with needed jobs. The agency was a big help in digging the U.S. out of trouble. -
The Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl would have a huge effect on the American economy as well as the world economy. Farmers were unable to grow crops or farmanything and as a result a food shortage occured. Thousands of people moved out of the area to magrate towards states like California and Arizona. -
World War II
World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The vast majority of the world's countries—including all the great powers—eventually formed two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. -
Pearl Harbor
The U.S. naval base Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941 by 353 Japanese bombers and fighter planes. This promted the U.S. to join World War II in both the European Theatre and the Pacific Theatre. Thought of isolationism was put to bed as it now was impossible for the U.S. not to join the War. -
Bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima
The atomic bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima ended the Second World War. This was a huge event in human history as it was the first (and also the only) time atomic bombing had been used in warfare. This is one of America's highly controversial events while some see as terrible but needed and others see it as terrible and unneccesary. -
The Birth of Suburbia
After World War II, the landscape of America had changed. Instead of either cities or rural areas being the most populous areas, a new idea was birthed, Suburbia. This changed how American families were as the new family was seen as a suburban family with a housewife and the husband working in the city. -
The Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961. The Soviets had cut off all of East Berlin from West Berlin making it a half democratic, half communist city. This event would anger the U.S. and many Allies as they saw it as almost a proclomation of war. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
The Cuban missile crisis was one of the defining moments in Cold War history. If the United States was to invade Cuba, they could potentially start World War III, but if they did not do anything then the communists would gain more confidence. This would change how domestic policy would go in the ensuing years of the War. -
Apollo 11
Apollo 11 brought Americans together like never before. Americans grew an appreciation for the outside world. Americans understood science more than ever now. -
Title IX
Title IX issued "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.". This meant that rights of scholarships and jobs were guarenteed by the government. This changed how universities and the American people saw collegee life and daily things. -
Miracle on Ice
The Miracle on Ice was the victory of the U.S. Hockey team over the much favored Soviet Hockey team at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The Soviets were made up of professionals from all over Eastern Europe where as the U.S. team was made up of amateurs from within the U.S. This event sent shockwaves around the country and gave the American people a blast of pride. -
Cell Phones
Text messaging and cell phones changed the last 20 years of America. Americans now can call an ambulance right on the scene of an accident or text police in a hostage situation. The celluar phone has made America safer. -
Columbine High School Massacre
Columbine is one of America's most tragic and heartwrenching events. Columbine would end up changing security schools and also how to prevent it. Columbine also sparked a huge gun control debate and also started the "bullying revolution". -
9/11
September 11 would change America forever. It would not only change how we did airport security, but it also changed the American attitude to revengeful against the Middle East. It also started the world's largest manhunt ever.